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Receptive Response Our readings from this past week in Acts 16-17 & 1 Kings 22-2 Kings 5 remind us that God’s expectations and man’s responses have not changed much in over 2800 years! |
Receptive Response
Our readings from this past week in Acts 16-17 & 1 Kings 22-2 Kings 5 remind us that God’s expectations and man’s responses have not changed much in over 2800 years! We learn from theses examples (using Naaman as a basis) what our response needs to be.
- Seek After God & His Word. The only thing that can help Naaman is God; even the king of Israel admits such (2 Kings 5:7). Yet how many content themselves with what pleases them or what other men say (1 Kings 22:5, 7, 23-24); more need to be like the jailer in seeking the word of God (Acts 16:30) and Paul in proclaiming it (Acts 17:2-3). Many care nothing for Him or what He has to say (Acts 16:19-20; 17:6); though He can be found (Acts 17:37).
- Hear/Listen To What He Says. Naaman was not benefited so long as he would not listen to God’s instructions (2 Kings 5:11-12). Likewise there were those that ridiculed the Word of God, hearing the things said but not listening to them (Acts 17:32-33); they heard what they needed to hear, but would not act on it. What a contrast to the Bereans (Acts 17:11).
- Obey/Do What He Says. Naaman finally was convinced to do as God instructed and was healed (2 Kings 5:13-14); others of this time were benefited when they too heeded the instructions of God’s prophets (2 Kings 4:1-7; 3:14ff).Were not those did the same in the New Testament richly blessed as well? (Acts 16:14-15, 31-34; 17:4, 34).
